Little change in CAO points for courses

CAO POINTS for many of the most popular college courses are broadly unchanged in the second round of offers this morning.

However points for some engineering courses have declined as colleges struggle to fill places. While demand has been higher for these courses this year, many applicants are ineligible as they do not have Grade C3 higher-level maths in the Leaving, a requirement for most engineering courses.

The trend is most marked at Dublin Institute of Technology where points for electrical engineering and computer engineering have fallen from more than 400 to just over 300. At TCD engineering is down five points to 405.

Points for arts at NUI Maynooth – which were up in the first round – are now down by five points to 375. Points for the other main arts courses across the university sector are broadly unchanged. Arts at UCD – the largest undergraduate course in the State – remains at 355.

There is little good news for those seeking places in the much-coveted science and technology courses. Points for the vast majority of Level 8 or higher degree courses in these areas across the university sector are unchanged.

The second round generally has virtually no impact on hugely over-subscribed courses in medicine and dentistry. But this year medicine at UCD is down from 738 to 735 ; at TCD it is down from 741 to 739.

Reflecting the general weakness in business courses, commerce at UCC is down five to 420.

At DCU most courses are unchanged in this round but, surprisingly, sports science is down 10 points to 455.

AT TCD, history is down 15 to 460 while linguistics and political science is down 10 to 510.

Last night NUI Maynooth said it made some offers in this second round to fill the remaining 3 per cent of places available.

John McGinnity, assistant registrar, said: “NUI Maynooth is delighted with the outcome from CAO round one which has shown an increase in average points from 424 to 431, the university’s highest ever level.”

This year’s Maynooth intake has also seen a 30 per cent increase in the number of entrance scholars – students with 500 CAO points or more.

NUI Maynooth has made some offers in engineering (following the recently held second-chance mathematics examination) as well as in media studies, social science and arts.

In the first round of offers, published last week, the points required for entry to courses in science, technology and agriculture increased dramatically, as students were seen to opt for programmes with better job prospects.

The reply date for round two is 5.30pm next Wednesday.

See our special supplement

on the CAO second round offers